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Tax Identification Numbers (September 2013)

TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS By Ethan R. Okura Back in June, I wrote an article on how Obamacare affects the income taxes that trusts pay.  It’s a very complicated subject (taxes always seem to be, don’t they?) and my quick summary of how it works may have left you with...

How To Title Real Estate: LLC, Revocable Trust, Personal Name? (July 2013)

HOW TO TITLE REAL ESTATE: LLC, Revocable Trust, Personal Name? By Ethan R. Okura For many people—especially in Hawaii—real estate is the most valuable investment they own and the largest part of their estate.  There is so much advice and mis-information floating...

How Does Income Tax Work With My Trust? (June 2013)

HOW DOES INCOME TAX WORK WITH MY TRUST? By  Ethan R. Okura Last month after writing my article on Medicaid planning techniques, we received a message from a concerned client who is worried about higher income tax rates, the new 3.8% Medicare (sometimes called...

QUESTION: Will a Revocable Living Trust protect my assets from lawsuits? (Sep 2012)

ANSWER:      Ethan R. Okura, Attorney Specializing in Estate Planning (Trusts, Wills, Medicaid Planning & Probate).  No, a revocable living trust will not protect your assets from lawsuits.  You can cancel your revocable trust...

Understanding Revocable Living Trusts (April 2012)

UNDERSTANDING REVOCABLE LIVING TRUSTS   Trusts began in England in the Middle Ages. The Statute of Uses is a law enacted in 1536 under King Henry VIII. The Statute of Uses is the basis of trust law in England.  From England, the concept of trusts came to America...

The Hawaii Asset Protection Trust (September 2011)

HAWAII ASSET PROTECTION TRUST By Sanford K. Okura          On July 1, 2011, the Hawai‘i Permitted Transfers in Trusts Act was amended. This is an important change in the law because you can now transfer assets to a trust and receive money from the trust and yet have...